Self-luminous sign



Sept. 22;, 1936. 4.1. `1 s. DE TAGLE fl-:T AL 2,055,172

SELF LUMINoUs SIGN V Filed July 11, 1935 Patented Sept. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-LUlVIINOUS SIGN Application July 11, 1935, Serial No. 30,924 In Mexico January 9, 1935 1 Claim.

This invention relates to signs for notices or advertisements and specially refers to a plate with characters luminous by themselves, to be used for several purposes, such as: plates for vehicles, streets nomenclature, numbers for the houses, circulation notices in the streets, roads or highways, for the names of towns, danger warnings, cross-roads, etc. Also for advertisements, exterior as well as interior, commemorating plates, directory plates, directories in buildings, interior numbering of houses and ofces, etc.

The main object of the invention is to supply a plate with notices of any nature, made out of any phosphorescent or self-luminous matter, provided with a frame suitably constructed so that the back-ground of same with the luminous characters remains somewhat in the dark; or, in other words, that it is protected from the slanting rays of light from outside, with the purpose that the visible effect of said luminous characters be not materially lessened by the exterior light.

The features of the invention are clearly shown in the attached drawing as an illustration of same; the same reference characters applying to the same parts in the three figures shown, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the plate, built according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a broken perspective with the side frame removed in order to place the plates one after another.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same.

Speciiically referring to the attached drawing, the sign, according to the present invention, comprises: a back plate I0, preferably enameled or painted in opaque dark colors, and of any shape whatever: triangular, rectangular, circular, oblong or polygonal. On that background I0, the respective sign is shown in light characters Il, either plain or embossed, made cut of a material or combination of phosphorescent or self-luminous chemical substances.

Said back sheet itself is surrounded by a sloping frame I2, generally with a slope of one hundred and ten degrees more or less in regard to the plane of the sheet, although this slant could Vary as it is deemed necessary, which constitutes a kind of inverted basil which projects to the front, the width of this being of a suitable size; stating, by way of an example, that a width of a fifth of the plate affords better results. The frame or basil I2 has in its edge a flange I3, folded in such a way that it forms substantially an angle with respect to said frame or basil, as can be clearly seen in Figures 2 and 3, of the attached drawing. The internal surfaces of the whole., which constitutes the frame formed by parts l2 and I3, may be painted in the same dark and opaque color as the back l0, of the sign.

The described frame, in the shape stated, has for its purpose to form a kind of dark chamber, that is to say, a chamber to protect the notice in the plate from the slanting rays of light coming from the outside, so that said notice formed by the characters Il remains in the dark and prevents that said rays of light are reected lessening the self luminosity of the characters in the back of the plate.

Of course this plate, speciiically illustrated and described and with which the. afore mentioned results are obtained, can be modiiied in several ways within the scope of the invention herein described and forthwith claimed.

Having described the invention, what I consider as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A sign comprising a base, luminous letters on the base, a margin for the base to prevent side lights reaching the letters, said margin comprising a section extending outwardly from the base at an angle greater than a right angle, with a margin for such section extending inwardly with respect to the base and at an approximate right angle to the first mentioned section, the last named section being of suliicient width to prevent light rays coming from the side from reaching and interfering with the light emission of the luminous letters.

'JOSE LUIS SANCHEZ DE TAGLE.

RICARDO LOZANO ZAPIAJN. 

